Market Overview

The arcade and pinball market is driven by nostalgia, collectors, home game rooms, and commercial operators (bars, arcades, barcades). Prices have risen dramatically since 2015 as millennials with disposable income seek childhood favorites.

Why This Niche?

  • High profit margins: $500-$5,000+ profit per machine common
  • Low competition: Most resellers avoid due to size/complexity
  • Passionate buyers: Collectors pay premium for right machines
  • Barrier to entry: Need truck, space, some technical knowledge
  • Multiple exit strategies: Sell whole, part out, or operate for income

Market Segments

Segment Price Range Buyer Type
Pinball (Modern) $5,000-$15,000+ Collectors, home game rooms
Pinball (Classic) $1,500-$8,000 Collectors, operators
Arcade (Golden Age) $800-$5,000+ Collectors, barcades
Arcade (90s-2000s) $300-$2,000 Home users, operators
Jukeboxes $500-$10,000+ Decorators, collectors
Slot Machines $200-$2,000 Home bars, collectors

Pinball Machines

Pinball is the crown jewel of coin-op collecting. Mechanical complexity, artwork, and nostalgia drive strong demand.

Pinball Eras

Era Years Characteristics Value
Electro-Mechanical 1947-1977 Chimes, score reels, no electronics $500-$3,000
Early Solid State 1977-1985 First electronic displays, simpler rules $800-$3,500
System 11/WPC 1985-1999 Alphanumeric/DMD displays, complex rules $2,000-$8,000+
Modern (Stern) 1999-Present LCD displays, licensed themes $4,000-$15,000+
Boutique 2013-Present Jersey Jack, Spooky, American Pinball $6,000-$12,000+

Most Valuable Pinball Machines

  • The Addams Family (1992): $6,000-$10,000+ - Best selling pin ever
  • Medieval Madness (1997): $8,000-$15,000+ - Holy grail for many
  • Twilight Zone (1993): $6,000-$12,000+ - Complex, sought after
  • Monster Bash (1998): $7,000-$12,000+ - Fun theme, great gameplay
  • Attack From Mars (1995): $5,000-$9,000+ - Classic Williams
  • Theatre of Magic (1995): $5,000-$9,000+ - Beautiful artwork
  • Scared Stiff (1996): $4,000-$7,000 - Elvira themed

Major Manufacturers

  • Bally: 1931-1988 (merged with Williams)
  • Williams: 1943-1999 (made some of the best)
  • Gottlieb: 1927-1996 (oldest manufacturer)
  • Stern: 1977-Present (only major manufacturer today)
  • Data East: 1987-1994 (some gems)
  • Jersey Jack: 2011-Present (boutique, high-end)

๐Ÿ’ก Pinball Pro Tip: Williams/Bally WPC-era games (1990-1999) are the sweet spotโ€”complex enough to be interesting, old enough to be affordable, and parts are still available.

Video Arcade Games

Arcade Eras

Era Years Examples Value Range
Golden Age 1978-1983 Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Galaga, Defender $800-$5,000+
Silver Age 1984-1991 Double Dragon, TMNT, Final Fight $600-$3,000
Fighting Era 1991-1998 Street Fighter II, Mortal Kombat, Killer Instinct $500-$2,500
Modern 1998-2010 DDR, Racing games, Ticket redemption $300-$3,000

Most Valuable Arcade Games

  • Donkey Kong (1981): $2,000-$5,000+ - Nintendo classic
  • Pac-Man (1980): $1,500-$4,000 - Icon, many produced
  • Ms. Pac-Man (1982): $1,500-$3,500 - Even more popular
  • Galaga (1981): $1,500-$3,500 - Shooter classic
  • Street Fighter II (1991): $1,000-$2,500 - Fighting legend
  • TMNT (1989): $1,500-$3,500 - 4-player classic
  • NBA Jam (1993): $1,000-$2,500 - Boomshakalaka!

Cabinet Types

  • Upright: Standard standing cabinet - most common
  • Cocktail: Table-style, sit-down - less common, collectors love
  • Cabaret: Smaller upright - space-saver
  • Dedicated: Built for one game - most valuable
  • Conversion: Cabinet with different game installed - less valuable
  • JAMMA: Standardized wiring for swapping games - versatile

โš ๏ธ Beware Conversions: A Pac-Man cabinet converted to play Galaga is worth less than either original. Collectors want dedicated cabinets with original art.

Other Coin-Operated Equipment

Jukeboxes

  • Wurlitzer (1940s-50s): $3,000-$15,000+ - Art deco styling
  • Seeburg (1950s): $2,000-$8,000 - Popular, reliable
  • Rock-Ola (1935-1992): $1,000-$5,000 - Quality craftsmanship
  • Modern CD/Digital: $300-$2,000 - Commercial use mainly

Slot Machines

  • Antique mechanical (pre-1970): $1,000-$5,000+ - Collectible
  • Electromechanical (1970s-80s): $300-$1,500
  • Video slots (1990s+): $200-$800 - Commercial surplus

Legal Note: Slot machine laws vary by state. Some require machines be 25+ years old. Research your state before buying.

Other Coin-Op

  • Pool tables (coin-op): $500-$2,500
  • Air hockey: $500-$2,000
  • Foosball: $300-$1,500
  • Crane/claw machines: $500-$3,000
  • Skill stop games: $200-$800
  • Driving simulators: $1,000-$5,000+ (sit-down)
  • Gun games: $500-$2,500

Where to Buy

Best Sources

  • Craigslist/Facebook Marketplace: Best deals from non-collectors wanting machines gone
  • Estate sales: Often underpriced, sellers don't know values
  • Arcade/bar closings: Bulk deals, negotiate hard
  • Operator routes: Commercial operators selling off machines
  • Auctions: Estate auctions, specialty coin-op auctions
  • Pinball/arcade shows: Network, find deals, learn
  • Online forums: Pinside, KLOV, rec.games.pinball

Pricing Research

  • Pinside.com: Pinball price guide, sales history
  • KLOV (Killer List of Videogames): Arcade database
  • Facebook groups: "Pinball Machines For Sale" etc.
  • eBay sold listings: For parts and some machines

๐Ÿ’ก Sourcing Pro Tip: Post "WANTED" ads for specific machines. Serious sellers will contact you, and you often get better deals than competing with buyers on active listings.

Evaluating Machines

Pinball Inspection Checklist

  • Playfield condition: Wear, inserts lifting, ball trails
  • Cabinet condition: Scratches, fading, water damage
  • Backglass: Flaking, cracks (expensive to replace)
  • Plastics: Cracks, missing pieces
  • Rubbers: Cracked, dried out (cheap to replace)
  • All features work: Test every flipper, target, ramp, mode
  • DMD/display: Dead pixels, brightness
  • Sound: All speakers working, no distortion
  • Legs: Rust, bent, correct for machine

Arcade Inspection Checklist

  • Monitor: Burn-in, color issues, cap kit needed?
  • Cabinet art: Fading, peeling, scratches
  • Control panel: Buttons working, overlay condition
  • PCB (game board): Does game boot correctly?
  • Power supply: Original? Working?
  • Wiring: Original harness? Modified?
  • T-molding: Missing, cracked
  • Coin door: Mechanism works, lock present

Red Flags

  • Water damage (warped wood, rust, corrosion)
  • "I haven't turned it on in years"
  • Heavy smoke exposure (yellowed plastics, smell)
  • Missing parts (especially backglass, playfield plastics)
  • Incorrect/mismatched parts
  • Rodent damage (chewed wires, nests)

Restoration Basics

Skill Levels

Task Difficulty Cost
Clean playfield/cabinet Easy $20-50
Replace rubbers/bulbs Easy $30-80
Rebuild flippers Easy-Medium $30-60
Monitor cap kit (arcade) Medium $20-40 + labor
Replace switches Medium $5-20 each
Power supply repair Medium-Hard $50-200
Circuit board repair Hard $100-500+
Playfield restoration Hard/Pro $500-3000+
Cabinet refinish Hard/Pro $500-2000+

Essential Supplies

  • Novus plastics polish: 1, 2, 3 for playfield cleaning
  • Rubber kit: Specific to machine
  • LED kit: Modern LED replacements
  • Multimeter: Essential for diagnostics
  • Soldering iron: For repairs
  • DeoxIT: Contact cleaner for switches

Flip vs Restore

Quick flip: Clean, basic repairs, sell as-is for fast profit

Full restore: Higher investment, higher return, longer timeline

The math: A $1,500 machine that needs $500 in parts and 20 hours of work to sell for $4,000. Is that $2,000 profit worth 20+ hours? Often yes.

Pricing Guide

Condition Grades

  • Shopper/HUO (Home Use Only): 100% - Like new, minimal play
  • Excellent: 85-95% - Clean, fully working, minor wear
  • Good: 70-85% - Working, visible wear, needs some work
  • Fair: 50-70% - Works partially, significant wear
  • Project: 30-50% - Major work needed, parts value
  • Parts machine: 10-30% - Not worth restoring

Value Factors

  • Title/Theme: Popular themes command premiums
  • Rarity: Low production = higher value
  • Condition: HUO machines worth 20-40% more
  • Originality: Matching serials, original parts
  • Working status: Non-working = 40-60% discount
  • Regional demand: Prices vary by location

๐Ÿ’ก Pricing Pro Tip: Use Pinside.com's price guide for pinball, but remember it skews toward collector/enthusiast sales. Local Craigslist prices are often 10-20% lower.

Where to Sell

Platform Fees Best For
Facebook Marketplace Free (local) Local sales, largest audience
Craigslist Free Local, older demographic
Pinside Classifieds Free (members) Serious pinball collectors
Facebook Groups Free Targeted collectors (pinball/arcade groups)
eBay ~13% Parts, rare items, willing to ship
Specialty Auctions 10-20% High-end collections
Route Operators Negotiated Working commercial machines

Photography Tips

  • Playfield lit up (game powered on)
  • Cabinet all sides
  • Backglass close-up
  • Any damage documented
  • Coin door area
  • Inside cabinet (clean first!)

Moving & Shipping

Weight Reference

  • Pinball machine: 250-350 lbs
  • Upright arcade: 200-350 lbs
  • Cocktail arcade: 150-250 lbs
  • Jukebox: 200-500 lbs

Moving Equipment

  • Appliance dolly: Essential for moving
  • Moving straps: Secure to dolly and truck
  • Moving blankets: Protect from scratches
  • Ramps: For loading into truck/trailer
  • At least 2 people: Never move alone

Shipping Long Distance

  • Professional shippers: Pinball Star, D&L Amusements
  • uShip: Get quotes from freight movers
  • LTL freight: Pallet + crate = $300-800+ depending on distance
  • Crating: Professional crating $100-300

โš ๏ธ Moving Warning: ALWAYS remove the backglass and store it separately. It's the most fragile and expensive part. Lay pinball machines on the back, NOT face down.

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